John Hickenlooper — a Democrat, former Colorado governor and co-founder of Denver-based Wynkoop Brewing — will become the first craft brewer to win a seat in the U.S. Senate after defeating incumbent Sen. Cory Gardner (R.-Colo.) on Tuesday.
“Clearly people are saying it’s time to turn the page, it’s time for a different approach,” Hickenlooper said in his acceptance speech. “It’s time to start solving problems and helping people, and that’s exactly what I intend to do. I want you to know that I am honored by the trust you have placed in me and I’m deeply committed to the job ahead.”
Hickenlooper, who served as a two-term governor beginning in 2011, entered the crowded Democratic presidential nomination field in March 2019, but dropped out in August 2019, months before any primaries took place. Last night, Hickenlooper defeated Gardner 53.9% to 44%.
Before beginning his political career as Denver mayor in 2003, Hickenlooper co-founded Wynkoop Brewing with Jerry Williams, Mark Schiffler and Russell Schehrer in 1988. It was one of Denver’s first brewpubs, founded just as the first wave of craft breweries was beginning to take shape.
Hickenlooper has styled himself as a progressive politician who reaches across party lines. During his time as governor, Hickenlooper banned high-capacity magazines and added universal background checks following a mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado, in 2012. He expanded the state’s Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act.
“We’ve had enough of leaders in Washington thinking it was their job to only represent blue America or red America, red Colorado or blue Colorado,” Hickenlooper said in his acceptance speech. “I’ve always believed it’s my job to represent all [of] Colorado. That’s what it’s gonna take to beat this pandemic, to make sure people have decent jobs and Main Street businesses can grow again.”
Hickenlooper’s win marks a Senate pickup for the Democrats, who need to net four seats to gain control of the Senate, which looks unlikely as of press time. In Arizona, Democratic challenger and retired astronaut Mark Kelly defeated incumbent Sen. Martha McSally, 52.5% to 47.4%, in a special election for the seat previously held by late Sen. John McCain. Republicans picked up a seat in Alabama, where retired college football coach Tommy Tuberville defeated incumbent Sen. Doug Jones, 60.4% to 39.6%.
Voters in New Jersey, Arizona, Montana and South Dakota Opt to Legalize Recreational Marijuana
Residents of four states — New Jersey, Arizona, Montana and South Dakota — voted to legalize recreational marijuana on Tuesday, joining 11 other states where cannabis is fully legal, according to THCnet.com.
We did it, New Jersey!
Public Question #1 to legalize adult-use marijuana passed overwhelmingly tonight, a huge step forward for racial and social justice and our economy. Thank you to @NJCAN2020 and all the advocates for standing on the right side of history.
— Phil Murphy (@PhilMurphyNJ) November 4, 2020
In New Jersey, the ballot question passed with 66.9% of the vote. Arizona’s ballot measure creates a system for residents with past marijuana convictions to petition for the expungement of their records.
Both South Dakota and Montana voted to legalize medicinal marijuana in addition to recreational.
In Oregon, voters approved the decriminalization of possession of all illegal drugs and legalized the use of psilocybin, which is the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms, for mental health treatment.
Washington, D.C., voters opted to decriminalize the use of psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin.
Cannabis is legal in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Vermont, Massachusetts and Maine.